New Mobile Phone Restriction RuleFor Commercial Motor Vehicle DriversOverview and BackgroundA new FMCSA rule restricts the use of all hand-held mobile devices by drivers of commercialmotor vehicles (CMVs). This rulemaking restricts a CMV driver from holding a mobile device tomake a call, or dialing by pressing more than a single button. CMV drivers who use a mobilephone while driving can only use a hands-free phone located in close proximity.Research commissioned by FMCSA shows that the odds of being involved in a safety-criticalevent (e.g., crash, near-crash, unintentional lane deviation) are 6 times greater for CMV driverswho engage in dialing a mobile phone while driving than for those who do not. Dialing driverstook their eyes off the forward roadway for an average of 3.8 seconds. At 55 mph (or 80.7 feetper second), this equates to a driver traveling 306 feet, the approximate length of a football field,without looking at the roadway!What is the definition of using a mobile telephone?•The use of a hand-held mobile telephone means:° Using at least one hand to hold a mobile phone to make a call;° Dialing a mobile phone by pressing more than a single button; or° Reaching for a mobile phone in a manner that requires a driver to maneuver sothat he or she is no longer in a seated driving position, restrained by a seat belt.What does this rule mean to drivers and carriers?• Fines and Penalties – Using a hand-held mobile phone while driving a CMV can resultin driver disqualification. Penalties can be up to $2,750 for drivers and up to $11,000 foremployers who allow or require drivers to use a hand-held communications device whiledriving.• Disqualification - Multiple violations of the prohibition of using a hand-held mobilephone while driving a CMV can result in a driver disqualification by FMCSA. Multipleviolations of State laws prohibiting use of a mobile phone while driving a CMV is aserious traffic violation that could result in a disqualification by a State of driversrequired to have a Commercial Drivers License.May 2012No Call, No Text, No Ticket1•What are the risks? - Using a hand-held mobile phone is risky becauseit requires the driver to reach for and dial the phone to make a call.Reaching for a phone out of the driver’s immediate area is risky as wellas dialing because these actions take the driver’s eyes off the roadway.• The rule applies to drivers operating a commercial motor vehicle on aroadway, including moving forward or temporarily stationary becauseof traffic, traffic control devices, or other momentary delays.• A mounted phone is acceptable as long as it is mounted close to thedriver.• Impact on Safety Measurement System (SMS) Results – Violationsnegatively impact SMS results, and they carry the maximum severityweight.It’s very easy tocomply with thenew rules:NoREACHINGNoHOLDINGNoDIALINGNoTEXTINGNoREADINGCompliance• Make sure the mobile telephone is within close enough proximity that it is operable whilethe driver is restrained by properly installed and adjusted seat belts.• Use an earpiece or the speaker phone function.• Use voice-activated dialing.• Use the hands-free feature. To comply, a driver must have his or her mobile telephonelocated where he or she is able to initiate, answer, or terminate a call by touching a singlebutton. The driver must be in the seated driving position and properly restrained by a seatbelt. Drivers are not in compliance if they unsafely reach for a mobile phone, even if theyintend to use the hands-free function.No Call, No Text, No Ticket!